The tactical change that allowed Plymouth Argyle to thrash Norwich City is explained by Steven Schumacher.

The tactical change that allowed Plymouth Argyle to thrash Norwich City is explained by Steven Schumacher.
The Pilgrims’ manager used the 3-4-2-1 formation for the first time this year, which worked so effectively for his team when they won League One in 2022/23.

To avenge their 6-2 thrashing of Norwich City earlier in the week at Home Park at the hands of Bristol City, Steven Schumacher said Plymouth Argyle executed their game plan flawlessly.

The Pilgrims’ manager decided to change his team’s formation from the 4-3-3 employed in all of their prior Championship games to the 3-4-2-1 configuration that worked so effectively for his team when they won the 2022–23 League One championship. He did this because he believed it would give his team the best chance to defeat Norwich.

Argyle did not just beat Norwich they did it with an attacking display of high quality, capped by a hat-trick from Morgan Whittaker, as well as goals from Dan Scarr, Finn Azaz and substitute Luke Cundle, as they put their 4-1 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate firmly behind them.

Schumacher said: “I thought we played really well. I spoke earlier on in the week about the performance on Tuesday night didn’t look like us, it didn’t look like our team. It had been a while since we have had a performance like that, and we felt we could do something about it.

It wasn’t a hard fix really of what went wrong on Tuesday night. It was just about putting in a bit more effort and, obviously, getting people in the right position and doing the basics right.

“When we get that right as a team we always look a threat, so I’m really pleased with the reaction from the lads. I knew we would get a reaction because of how honest the players are, and the staff.

We speak about things when we don’t get it right so for us to get a reaction the way we did and win the game in the manner we did is really pleasing. It’s easy when you are getting criticism to let your heads drop and lose confidence.

“We spoke about it on Thursday morning and immediately after the meeting we said ‘Right, okay, that’s it, draw a line under it, let’s prepare for the next game’. We knew it was going to be really tough against Norwich, who are a top team, so we had to focus on that solely and make sure we got the plan right.

“When we got onto the training field it was a bright session, and then Friday when we went through the game plan we just made sure everybody understood what we were trying to do, and today we have carried out that plan perfectly.”

Schumacher continued: “We have changed our shape today, and for us to adjust quickly to go back to what we did last year, we felt that was a good plan because of how Norwich play, where their wide players come inside.

“They have a lot of players in central areas and try to overload you so we felt if we could get more bodies in the middle of the pitch it would give us a chance to intercept, and then if we can break and show some quality we knew the speed we have got at the top end of the pitch would cause their two centre-backs problems.

“So that pleased me the most, the understanding of what we were trying to do and then the execution of it was brilliant.

“I think the system this year (4-3-3) has been good. We have had loads of possession, we have controlled the game in the majority of our performances and the lads have adapted to it really well.

“But when you can go to that system (3-4-2-1) and say ‘Do you remember we did this last year, lads? Do you remember this little pattern of play? This is what we did against a back four’ it’s an easy job because of how long we played it.

“When I spoke to Luke Cundle and Kaine Kesler-Hayden about leaving them out the team, I said I was going with lads who know exactly what we are doing. I wanted them to watch and when they get their opportunity on the pitch to be ready, so that’s what we did.

“It was for a tactical reason. It was to try to stop what Norwich are really good at and get some more bodies in the middle of the pitch where we were going to need them.”

Argyle went in at half-time with a 4-0 lead after added time goals from Whittaker and Azaz but Schumacher did not feel safe even with that sizeable advantage. “I didn’t think it was over,” he said. “We were thinking we were going in at two-nil and all of a sudden we are going in at four-nil.

“That was a bit of mad few minutes but it gives you that cushion. We spoke about trying to concentrate because we know the quality in their team. If they got the first goal early then there would be 45 minutes for them to score three goals and they could easily do that.

“I think they were the leading goalscorers in the Championship going into today maybe so we knew what they possess. We just said to concentrate, stick to the plan and keep doing what we had been doing. There was no need to change anything.”

Whittaker had not scored since the opening day 3-1 win against Huddersfield Town at Home Park on August 5 but has now has four goals and the same number of assists this term, which illustrates his importance to Argyle.

Schumacher said: “I’m sure he’s delighted (about the hat-trick). I’m buzzing for him. He’s obviously a huge player for us, he has been playing really well.

“He will be pleased with his day’s work. He was playing today in a position that’s he comfortable in. He’s really good in that number 10 pocket. Him and Finn Azaz I thought were outstanding, and Ryan Hardie definitely deserved a goal as well for his efforts.”

Schumacher was heavily criticised by some Argyle supporters following the defeat by Bristol City after making seven changes to his side. However, both he and his players responded superbly as they clinched a third win out of four home Championship matches this season.

“I don’t need any credit, I think the players need credit for it,” he said. “They could have easily let their heads drop, could have easily looked for excuses but we didn’t do that.